Drop and run backpack

ABSTRACT

A backpack system comprised of a main pack, belt and shoulder harness system to equally distribute weight with the ability to quickly detach the main pack by the removal of a rod that traverses interlocking loops attached to the main pack and belt. Attached to the main pack is a top strap that secures the top of the main pack, passes through an opening in a shoulder bracket on the shoulder harness and is accepted by a space in the center of the belt loops wherein a rod is passed through loops from main pack, belt, and the top strap loop in order to hold the main pack to the belt and shoulder harness. A further inventive feature is a relief built into the main pack to fit over a fire shelter that can be attached to the belt and is to remain on the belt after detachment of main pack.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Burnovers have been the single greatest cause of death among wildland firefighters in the past 100 years. Wildfires are unpredictable and can be miscalculated causing firefighters to be caught in the fire's path with very little time to escape. The first option for a firefighter to evade tragedy is to reach a safe zone by removing all tools and gear (including backpack), locating and removing fire shelter from its pouch on the pack, and running. A last resort is to deploy and get into a fire shelter while the fire over-runs the sheltered firefighter.

Firefighting backpacks can be difficult to remove in an emergency situation and the shoulder harness and belt system can become tangled in the arms or feet of a firefighter. Furthermore, smoke and heat related to wild fires can make it difficult to locate and remove the fire shelter from the backpack after the pack is removed. Further, fire shelters are not fail safe. The best chance a firefighter has to escape tragedy is to reach a safe zone.

Most firefighting backpacks have a fixed shoulder harness sewn or buckled to the top of the main pack and a belt sewn near the bottom of the main pack in order to support a portion of the total weight of the pack. Other firefighting backpacks can have a detachable main pack for use when working in close proximity to safety vehicles or any time large amounts of gear are not needed. When a main pack is detached, a firefighter is left with a shoulder harness, belt and provisions such as water bottle holders, fire shelter holder, and a communications device. Various methods of detachability used in firefighting backpacks include buckles, zippers, buttons, snaps and Velcro, or a combination of the preceding. The process of detaching packs from the shoulder harness and belt involves several steps:

-   -   1. The wearer must remove the backpack.     -   2. Undo fasteners that attach shoulder harness and belt to main         pack.     -   3. Re-configure the shoulder straps to attach to the belt rather         than the top of the main pack. This process usually requires the         user to increase the length of an adjustable strap and clip a         buckle.     -   4. Remove fire shelter from main pack and attach it to belt. A         fire shelter must be carried by a firefighter whether the main         pack is attached or detached.     -   5. Shoulder harness and belt must be put back on.

This process generally takes between two and five minutes and is not intended as a safety mechanism.

This invention comprises a firefighting backpack system that is quickly detachable to aid in escape from an out of control fire. Specifically, the main pack detaches from the shoulder harness and belt quickly, by means of removing a rod, without the system being removed from the wearer. Further, the fire shelter holder is always attached to the belt and does not detach with the main pack and therefore is easily accessible to the wearer after the main pack is detached.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is comprised of a backpack system that has a quick release main pack for firefighters. A combination shoulder harness and belt support the weight of the main pack until main pack is released as in the case of an emergency, such as a change in wind direction during a fire. In an emergency, detaching the main pack will eliminate the weight associated with the main pack and aid a firefighter in reaching a safe zone while retaining the shoulder harness and belt. Any essential items attached to the belt are retained such as: drinking water, fire shelter, and communication equipment. If escape is still not possible, the fire shelter is easily accessible on the belt and can be removed without taking off the shoulder harness or belt.

Unlike other firefighting backpacks, the detachability of the invention is designed as a safety mechanism. Precious time can be saved allowing a firefighter to remove the weight associated with the main pack while retaining the fire shelter to more quickly reach a safe zone.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1: Side view of main pack assembled to belt and shoulder harness.

FIG. 2: Side view of belt and shoulder harness with fire shelter holder and no main pack.

FIG. 3: Back view of main pack showing relief for fire shelter.

FIG. 4: Belt and Fire shelter holder.

FIG. 5: User wearing assembled pack, ready to release main pack.

FIG. 6: Main pack released.

1—Main Pack

2—Shoulder Bracket

3—Main Strap

4—Shoulder Harness

5—Fire Shelter Holder

6—Relief in Main Pack for Fire Shelter

7—Loop on Main Pack

8—Loop on Belt

9—Velcro Flap to Cover Rod End

10—Belt

11—Rod

12—Lanyard Attached to Rod

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the assembled backpack system consists of the main pack 1, belt 10, and shoulder harness 4. Covered by webbing flap and secured by hook and loop closure is flexible rod 11 which attaches the main pack to the belt by traversing the alternating loops from both the main pack and the belt. Loops 8 spaced apart on the belt compliment the opposite spaced loops 7 from the main pack. The main pack loops 8 are sewn to the pack and the belt loops 7 are sewn to the belt. A space is provided in the center of the belt loops 8 to accept a loop in one end of the main strap 3 from the top of the main pack 1. The other end of the main strap is sewn to the top of the main pack 1. The pack can easily be attached by sliding a rod 11 through the first loop 8 on the belt from the right or left side, followed by the first loop 7 on the pack, and then alternating the rod through the remaining loops from the belt and main pack and including the passing of the rod 11 through the main strap 3 loop in the center of the belt. FIGS. 1 and 2 show a flap on each end of the outer belt loops 7, which close off the end of the loops and secures the rod 11 by use of hook and loop closure. The flaps hold the rod in place until a handle 12 attached to the rod 11 by a lanyard, is pulled, releasing the main pack. The rod 11 can be inserted and removed from either the right or left-hand side of the belt 10 to accommodate both right and left-handed users.

FIGS. 2, 3, and 6 show the main strap 3 attached to the main pack 1. The main strap is fed from the top of the main pack, through an opening in a bracket 2 that attaches the belt 10 to the shoulder harness 4 and down to the center of the belt. The opening in the center of the belt, between the two center-most belt loops 8 accommodates a loop on the end of the main strap 3 when the main pack 1 is attached to the belt 10 and shoulder harness 4. The main strap supports the top of the main pack when the main pack is assembled to the belt and shoulder harness. When the rod 11 is removed, the main strap 3 is released, sliding out of the shoulder bracket 2, releasing the top of the main pack from the shoulder harness and belt.

FIG. 3 shows a relief 6 built into the main pack 1 to accommodate the fire shelter holder 5 when the main pack is attached to the belt 10. The main pack covers the fire shelter holder 5 when the holder is mounted in the center of the belt until the main pack is released. This feature allows the fire shelter to be worn at all times but also be non-intrusive on the user. The main pack provides protection to the fire shelter by keeping it from being melted, torn or damaged by the elements of a wildfire. Again, when the main pack is released, the fire shelter is readily accessible and deployable. As shown in FIG. 4, the fire shelter holder is attached to center of the belt below the loops but can also be mounted on the right or left side of the belt if preferred by the user. The fire shelter holder is adjustable to fit with the opening facing either the left or right side of the belt for accessibility by either right or left-handed users.

May it be known that while the invention has been detailed above in conjunction with the preferred specific embodiments, this description and referred figures are provided to illustrate and not limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the attached claims. 

1. A backpack system consisting of a main pack, shoulder harness, and belt wherein the main pack has a mechanism that enables it to be quickly detachable while being worn by the user, said mechanism consisting of a rod that passes through alternating loops sewn to the main pack and belt, a strap from the top of the pack that passes through a bracket on the shoulder harness and down to the center of the belt, closure means to hold the rod in place and release means for opening said closure means and releasing the main pack from the shoulder harness and belt.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said rod is made from a flexible material in order to conform to the shape of a user's waist line.
 3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said loops are made from web material and are sewn to both the main pack and belt.
 4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said strap from the top of main pack is made from web material, said web material defining a pair of opposite ends, one end sewn to top of the main pack and the other end forming a loop to provide for the rod to pass through in the center of belt when main pack is attached to belt and shoulder harness.
 5. The invention of claim 1 wherein such closure means comprise two flaps covering the outside opening in the two end belt loops including fastener means on the flaps and end loops of belt to secure flap until such time that the rod is released.
 6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said fastener on said flaps and end loops are made of hook and loop material.
 7. The invention of claim 1 wherein said release means consist of a lanyard passed through a small hole in the end of said rod and both ends of said lanyard attached to a pull handle. 